Why did the W.K. Kellogg Foundation create Expanding Equity?
WKKF has been on its own decades-long journey to create a more equitable workplace and lean into our 2007 commitment to being an “effective anti-racist organization that promotes racial equity.” We bring knowledge, experience, a network of relationships, and a collection of proven tools and human-centered approaches on racial equity, diversity and inclusion (REDI) to share with organizations and leaders seeking to do similar transformational work. Advancing REDI has been part of our work since the foundation’s inception in 1930. Read more about our journey here.
Expanding Equity launched in 2019 as a series of live workshops. The live program supported nearly 100 organizations and more than 600 leaders from more than 10 industries. WKKF transitioned the program to an online learning platform in 2023 so that more leaders and organizations could take advantage of it.
As a private foundation, Expanding Equity puts WKKF’s capital, influence, knowledge and reputation to work in new ways. By sharing action-oriented tools, we can help advance racial equity by transforming policies and practices in the industries and systems that shape society; drive better results for companies; and ultimately build equitable communities and an economy where all people can thrive. Read a Retrospective Report about Expanding Equity’s impact here.
Why Racial Equity, Diversity and Inclusion?
Organizations use a variety of terms to identify their DEI efforts. Examples include diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI or DE&I); diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging (DEIB), diversity and inclusion (D&I), or justice, equity, diversity and inclusion (JEDI). WKKF uses racial equity, diversity and inclusion (REDI) because we believe that acknowledging the impacts of race and racism on our relationships, organizations, systems and communities is a necessary part of any equity or transformation effort. The tools and concepts in Expanding Equity’s offerings should be useful for your organization’s efforts, regardless of what term(s) you use.